Getting started with BFT

• Nothing to install

  When a server runs WD Warhawk BFT, the game downloads it, and WD Core with it, as you join. The server's mod list on the Servers page shows it.

• Carry a TALON Tablet

  It is in the US, USSR and FIA arsenals at no supply cost. With it, TALON opens on the tablet in your hands. Without one, in a vehicle seat or on a ladder, it opens flat on your screen. Both work the same.

• Keyboard or controller

  Every step gives both. Face buttons are written Xbox / PlayStation: A / Cross, B / Circle, Y / Triangle. LB and RB are L1 and R1.

1. 1Open the map

   You are the magenta arrow, your squad is cyan, the rest of your side deep blue. A red diamond with a heartbeat is a friendly who is down. A faded marker far off is where the server last reported them, up to 10 seconds ago.

   KeyboardYour map key

   ControllerYour map button

2. 2Read a grid

   The panel at the top of the map. CURSOR GRID is the 8-digit grid under your cursor; MY POS is yours, with your heading. Eight digits is good to 10 metres.

   KeyboardMouse over the spot

   ControllerMove the map cursor onto it

3. 3Find the compass

   Close the map. The compass is at the bottom of your screen: the box is the way you look, BA the way back. Cyan dots are your squad; one off the tape waits at the edge on the side to turn to.

   KeyboardLook around

   ControllerLook around

4. 4Open TALON and set it up

   Go to the BFT tab and set the mini map (range, size, corner, terrain, opacity), your friendly tag range and the compass. Every change saves at once and stays for next time.

   Keyboard' then Q and E for tabs

   ControllerHold D-pad Right, press A / Cross, then LB and RB

5. 5Lase something

   Look at a building: LASE 1,240 m | 247° | 0452 1189 shows under the compass. Lase again within 5 seconds and a red CONTACT marker goes on your side's map.

   Keyboard\ (backslash)

   ControllerTap D-pad Left + Y / Triangle

6. 6Try BFT TOOLS

   One button each: POSITION REPORT, MARK BEARING, MILS / DEGREES, TAGS RANGE and TRACK CASUALTY. Move to one and press it; any reply comes in chat.

   KeyboardArrows, then Enter or a click

   ControllerD-pad, then A / Cross

TALON is WD Core's field tablet, and BFT lives on it. A setting row reads LABEL < VALUE >: right or a click gives the next value, left the one before, and it saves at once. A button row runs when you press it, and any reply comes in chat. A row the server limits says (SERVER).

• Call a contact

  1. Look at the enemy position.
  2. Lase: \ on a keyboard, or tap D-pad Left + Y / Triangle. Range, bearing and grid show under the compass.
  3. Lase again within 5 seconds. A red CONTACT marker goes on your side's map, and shows red on everyone's compass and mini map.
  4. Say it: "Contact, grid zero-four-five-two, one-one-eight-niner, bearing two-four-seven, twelve hundred metres."

• Get to a downed friendly

  1. Open the map. The CASUALTIES panel lists them nearest first, with bearing, range and grid.
  2. Click one. Or, on a controller or without the map, press TRACK CASUALTY on BFT TOOLS for the nearest.
  3. Follow the red heartbeat diamond on your compass. Look at it for their name and range.
  4. It goes when they are up. Press TRACK CASUALTY again, or click them again, to stop early.

• Tell the squad where you are

  1. Press - on a keyboard, or POSITION REPORT on BFT TOOLS.
  2. Squad chat gets MY POS 0381 1207 | HDG 247.
  3. Not in a squad? The compass says so, and nothing goes to side chat.

• Hold a bearing

  1. Face the way you mean to go.
  2. Press . on a keyboard, or MARK BEARING on BFT TOOLS. An amber triangle and MK 247° go on the compass.
  3. Turn away and the triangle waits at the edge, on the side to turn back to.
  4. Mark again to clear it.

• Find your squad

  1. Look for the cyan dots on the compass. Off the tape, they wait at the edge on the side to turn to.
  2. Or check the mini map: past its range, they wait on the outer ring.
  3. Turn until a dot sits under the amber marker to read their name and range.

• Work in mils

  1. Press , on a keyboard, or MILS / DEGREES on BFT TOOLS.
  2. The bearing reads 4391 MIL. There are 6400 in a circle.
  3. Again to go back. It starts in degrees each game.

Tapping D-pad Left + Y does nothing

Tap both and let go at once: a hold is the game's dismiss-hint. Still nothing? Another mod uses it. Pick new buttons in Settings, Controls, WD Warhawk BFT.

A key does nothing

Another mod took it. Use its BFT TOOLS button, type /bft, or pick a new key in Settings, Controls, WD Warhawk BFT.

No mini map, or tags stop at a range

The server switched it off or set a limit. The row on the BFT tab says (SERVER) or (SERVER LIMIT).

No BFT tabs on TALON

BFT did not load. Rejoin so the game can download it.

BFT: NOT SPAWNED in chat

POSITION REPORT, MARK BEARING and TRACK CASUALTY need a character. Spawn first.

BFT: NO CASUALTIES in chat

Nobody on your side is down near you or in the server's reports.

More in the full guide's Troubleshooting. Still stuck? Tell staff in Discord which server you were on and what you saw.